i can. >> reporter: by maryland governor martin o'malley. >> our constitution guarantees us the right and unfortunately the governor of maryland doesn't understand the definition of infringement. >> we do not have to resign ourselves to the way things have always been. >> reporter: the o'malley plan calls for a state ban on assault weapons similar to the federal ban that expired in 2004, restricting the size of magazines to 10 bullets or less, prohibiting gun sales to people under 21. additionally o'malley proposes gun licensing with renewal every five years which would include fingerprinting and a mandatory gun safety class requirement. rifles and shotguns used by sportsmen would be exempted. >> if you have to get a license to drive a car or motorcycle on the streets, i think most marylanders, democrats, republicans and independents, agree that you should have to be licensed in order to operate a firearm. >> whether the governor likes it or not this is a right. >> reporter: republican state

senator e.j. pipkin represents maryland's eastern shore. >> something that needlessly restricts access to unconstitutional and an infringement on basic citizens' rights. >> the o'malley agenda calls for spending 25 million bucks on security cameras and door buzzers for schools throughout the state. that drawn out hostage crisis in algeria is just a mess and right now the only thing we can say is we do not know a lot. the state department itself is still trying to figure out what's going on. algeria state run news agency says 12 hostages died in yesterday's operation to free the captives from islamic militants, but cbs news says it's been told by a u.s. government official that one american died and nine others are safe. on the other hand, other americans are still being held captive and the state department says the hostage takers are offering to swap two americans for two terror suspects in u.s. custody. >> let's not forget this is an

act of terror. the perpetrators are the terrorists. >> the white house says it offered to help with that rescue operation, but the algerian military turned them down. the presidential inauguration committee today announced the major acts to be performing at the official balls at the washington convention center. among the big names is alicia keys, brad paisley, jennifer hudson and our own andrea mccarren getting a behind the scenes look. >> reporter: a herd of international media toured the convention center. as workers transformed it into the backdrop for one of the world's largest parties. >> this is really a celebration of the american people and our country and an opportunity to show the world what a great nation we are and how our inaugurals are such a great part of our democracy. >> reporter: three major events will be held at the convention center, the kids inaugural concert, commander in chief ball and official inaugural ball. the commander in chief's ball

has been around since 2005 and allows enlisted members of the military to celebrate the inauguration with their president. >> don't ask don't tell is no longer, so they can bring whoever they love. >> reporter: this year's event has an unprecedented guest list. >> this is the first commander in chief ball where members of the military can come and bring their same sex partner to the inaugural ball as their guest. >> reporter: as the inaugural excitement builds, the race is on for presidential souvenirs, but unlike four years ago buyers are not willing to pay any price. >> i'm looking to buy something on sale whether it's the president or wal-mart. i'm always looking for a good say. >> reporter: in washington, andrea mccarren, wusa9. you moms and dads probably know very well that awful sinking feeling in the gut when you lose sight of your kid. multiply that feeling by the panic of hundreds of thousands of people all around you on inauguration day. you better make sure you have a plan. consider wearing the same

bright colors, for example. give your child a card with all the pertinent information including phone numbers and you got to hold hands plus have everybody carry a cell phone if it's available and establish a central meeting place in case somebody does get lost. >> so check it out. see that sign? >> yeah. >> department of energy, right? see that building? >> yes. >> see that afternoon? >> yeah. >> okay. this is where we're going to meet if anybody gets separated, okay? which is not going to happen, correct? >> yes. >> very good. carry on. >> so everybody is going to keep holding hands, right? in case it does happen, the u.s. park police set up a reunification site at 12th and madison streets northwest. if you need help to find a love one or other information text inauguration to 888777. one big inauguration question still out there unanswered, what will the first lady be wearing to those inaugural balls? we probably won't find out till the very last minute.

the white house reportedly asked nearly 20,000 designers to submit some ideas. last time around michelle wore white, so i guess we probably won't see that again. one expert does suggest we could see her wear an american made blue dress, blue symbolic of the democratic party. tonight part 2 of that interview that oprah did with lance armstrong. during part 1 the cyclist finally admitted that he used performance enhancing drugs to help him win all seven tour de frances, but as this report explains, armstrong says he didn't even feel bad about it. >> reporter: lance armstrong's long awaited confession came after oprah winfrey's first question. >> did you ever take banned substances to enhance your cycling performance? >> yes. >> reporter: armstrong told the world his unprecedented cycling career would not have been possible without doping. >> i view the situation as one big lie, that i repeated a lot of times. >> reporter: the disgraced

cyclist said he used blood transfusions, testosterone and the blood booster epo to get ahead. >> it did not even feel wrong? >> no. scary. >> reporter: armstrong did not consider his conduct cheating. he said it leveled the playing field during a time when many competitors were also doping. >> i didn't invent the culture, but i didn't try to stop the culture. >> reporter: he denied threatening teammates on the u.s. postal service team to use drugs, but he admitted bullying them to do just about everything else his way. >> it's a major flaw and it's a guy who expected to get whatever he wanted and to control every outcome. >> reporter: the u.s. anti- doping agency stripped armstrong of his tour titles last year when it found ever the cyclist used performance enhancing drugs. after last night's interview the agency said if armstrong is sincere about correcting past mistakes, he will testify under oath about the full extent of his doping activities.

armstrong's charity live strong said it was disappointed that he "misled people during and after his cycling career including us." >> now armstrong said he stopped the doping in 2005 and was not using performance enhancing drugs during his comeback attempt in 2009, but that assertion is being seriously disputed by some in the is like world who say there's a whole lot -- cycling world who say there's a whole lot of evidence to the contemporary. we'll have highlights of part 2 of the interview tonight at 11:00 of. let's go to a live -- 11:00. let's go to a live look outside on the weather terrace with our friend topper shutt. >> if you're going out tonight, please dress accordingly, scarf a good idea. current temperatures are falling like a stone, 34 downtown, 28 in gaithersburg, frederick, manassas, 32 leesburg and la plata is 28 and andrews. temps falling very quickly.

for tonight lows 22 to 32, clear skies becoming breezy again, winds switch and become southwest 10 to 15, wind chills in the teens after midnight. if you're planning to make a late night of it, dress for the teens and 20s. we'll come back. we're tracking some of the coldest air in two years, let you know when that rolls in. still ahead on wusa9 news at 7:00 this year's flu gets even deadlier, the brand-new numbers from the cdc right after the break. >> coming up next marion barry's bizarre allegations against

january 18th, 1990, 23 years ago today a day that will go down in infamy here in d.c., that's for sure. then mayor marion barry was arrested that night for crack cocaine possession in a sting

operation, but get this. barry tells u.s. news the fbi was actually trying to kill him by having him smoke some substance that was never proven to be cocaine crack. in that interview barry said they had an emt on the spot which he claims is rare for the fbi. the agency calls barry's allegations absurd and disappointing. in tonight's health alert new flu numbers out from the cdc, 48 states now reporting widespread flu activity up from 47 last week. california is the new state added as the flu continues to head west. nationally nine more children died from the flu last week and that brings the season's total to 29. the cdc doesn't keep track of adult deaths every week, but they estimate the flu kills about 24,000 people every year. pretty cold night out there in the d.c. area. topper is back after the break with some bone chilling details. >> and right after that why is this courageous young man and his family getting special

seats for the inaugurati

just a little earlier today the u.s. marine band putting the finishing touches last rehearsal for the performance in the inauguration parade. the band plays at 10 a.m. monday. that's right underneath the inauguration platform. when president obama is sworn in again, a virginia family will be part of that celebration. reporter tim saunders shows us why they got the big invite.

>> reporter: it's a quiet afternoon of video games at the norman house, but pretty soon they'll be packing for a big trip. >> i'm going to the white house. >> reporter: what are you going to do at the white house? >> i'm going to see the whole house and everything. >> reporter: nathan and his family will be guests at president obama's inauguration ceremony. a member of the secret service invited them. >> it was just amazing. we asked like are you serious and he said absolutely. >> reporter: in the last few months the normans have met hundreds of public safety workers from all over the world. they've been coming to encourage nathan during his battle with cancer. >> nathan's big thing the first time the secret service came out to visit him was how can they come out to see me if it's supposed to be a secret? >> reporter: it's no secret now. they're excited about next week's event. >> monday we're supposed to be picked up by the secret

service. we'll be with them the entire time. that's going to be a real treat for the kids because they love asking them all kind of questions. >> reporter: nathan has a brother and two sisters that will join him on his presidential journey. what are you looking forward to the most? >> probably seeing him in person. >> reporter: they're not sure if they'll actually have a chance to speak to the president. if that does happen, the kids have one question for him. >> maybe talk to him about jesus. >> reporter: faith is important to the normans. it's something they'd love to share with the president as he starts his 2nd term. >> i know my husband has said he'd really like to pray for him for god's leading and discernment in leading our country. >> that was tim saunders reporting. keep this in mind. wusa9 is your home for all things inaugural. coverage starts sunday morning 11:30. we bring you the official swearing in. monday our coverage starts at 4 a.m. sharp, goes until 7:30 p.m. and we'll join you 11:00 to midnight. we'll be streaming everything

live on the wusa9 app. watch it on your phone, ipad or your old-fashioned television set. the countdown is on for this weekend's big game ravens versus patriots. the winner is in the super bowl. baltimore is becoming known for the big play offense. last week joe flacco hooked up early and often with torrey smith. they'll want to see a bit more of that sunday against the patriots. we'll have the game here on wusa9, kickoff 6:30, plus a preview 7 p.m. on a special game on saturday. the game is on, my friends. >> yes, it is. we'll talk about that. foxboro not bad sunday, temps in the 30s. >> about like that. >> that might actually favor the ravens a little bit. we are looking at a cold night, a very nice weekend by january standards and then the coldest air in two years next week. let's start with a picture.

this is lexington park in southern maryland. they didn't get a lot of snow, but it briefly covered the ground. that's a very nice picture, patriotic, too. this was sent to us by ken meyer, lexington park, maryland. we appreciate that. now let's talk about looking outside live, clear as a bell. this is our live michael and son weather cam. temperatures are falling pretty quick now, 34 downtown, dew point in the teens, pretty dry air mass. wait till next week. we'll see dew points below 0. so again this is a good time to think about adding moisture back to your home so you can breathe at night on tuesday and wednesday. winds out of the southeast at 6, turning to become southwest later tonight. temps, 30 in alexandria, 34 downtown, but 29 in bethesda and reston 28, 31 fairfax and springfield. so most of the burbs even inside the beltway are below

freezing this hour and they'll continue to fall. it will be a cold night everywhere. breezy and colder tonight. dress for the teens, a nice weekend ahead and that's in the context of it being january, okay? we're not talking 60s but very nice and a deep freeze next week. we're talking a deep freeze. for the inauguration temps in the 30s, a couple snow flurries possible late, winds out of the northwest 10 to 15. we'll put the cold air into perspective. the arctic blast, the last time we held in the 20s at national was way back in december of 2010, high temperature 27. last time we held in the 20s at dulles was january of 2011. still about two years ago. high temperature of 29. we'll hold in the 20s tuesday and wednesday of next week. some of the burbs will be in the single digits for lows tuesday night and possibly wednesday night. for tonight not as cold but enough, 22 to 32, no barring be

a, clear skies, becoming breezy -- bargain, clear skies, becoming windy and colder, lows 25 rockville, 23 fairfax, 27 college park. tomorrow beautiful to start, mostly sunny but cold, temps in the 20s and 30s, breezy. grab junior glasses. by afternoon it will remain -- your sunglasses. by afternoon it will remain breezy, southwest 10 to 20, partly cloudy, temperatures in the upper 40s. next three days our 9 weather alert stay green, upper 40s tomorrow and sunday and then really cold monday in the mid- 30s. check this out it. gets even colder. we'll spend two days in the 20s, probably 60 or 66 hours below freezing downtown. be a little stretch of very, very cold air. upper 20s as we get into wednesday, back in the mid-30s thursday and right now indications are it's going to warm up and rain next friday which would be a crime, but there you have.

>> thank

for quick access to the latest news and weather a touch away at the itunes store where you can download the wusa9 app for your mobile phone or tablet. it's all free to give you a link to all the news and info that you want at your fingertips. in the mailbag tonight a lot of folks still angry with lance armstrong, but lou in manassas is not one of them. everyone needs to stop judging lance. 90% of us could have taken 10 times the amount of performance enhancing drugs and we still wouldn't be able to bike even 5 miles. so he lied. who hasn't? how can anyone not be in awe of his dedication? he wasn't just training so hard for himself. stripping him of his titles and medals is just wrong and

another thing. let's get pete rose in the hall of fame. okay. now with that last line i'm thinking this whole rant was pure sarcasm, right? because eyes i don't know what to think -- otherwise i don't know what to think. at the same time wusa9 has inaugurated a brand-new graphics look and some like colleen from stafford are impressed. i just want to say how great the new screen format looks for 9 news. the old style took a lot from the newscast. this new look is much easier on the eyes. finding information on the screen is a lot quicker, love the color codes for each category info and the resolution/crisp display is awesome. thank you so much, colleen, but unfortunately your view is not unanimous. mike finds all this change unsettling. i really hate your new banner on the bottom of the screen. it takes up too much real estate and blocks some other info on the screen. please go back to the info bar on the right side. in a word mike, no. that's just not going to happen

because while we appreciate that everybody may not be an instant fan of our new look, believe me, this was done after a whole lot of research and consideration and we're really hoping that if you give it a chance, you'll come to love our new graphics as much as we do, but even if you don't, please feel free to so unoff any time in mcginty's mailbag. the address is -- sound off any time in mcginty's mailbag. the address is mailbag@wusa9.com. include your name and where you're writing from. that is our broadcast. i'll be back here at 11:00 anita an

i'm nancy o'dell. >> and i'm rocsi diaz. did lance armstrong lie to oprah? >> plus, the question he wouldn't answer. >> did you ever take banned substances to enhance your cycling performance? >> yes. >> announcer: the fallout from the confession today. but is he keeping more secrets? >> in 2009 you did no doping? >> absolutely not. >> plus, what our body language expert saw. and what's still to come tonight. cops descend on tom cruise's beverly hills mansion. the 911 call. the report of an armed robbery in progress. >> now "e.t." with what really happened inside the estate. plus, our tom cruise "top gun" premiere flashback.